**Nitin Kashinath Raut ** (born 9 October 1952) is an Indian politician, Businessman and social activist from Maharashtra. He was a former Cabinet minister in the Uddhav Thackeray ministry, Government of Maharashtra. He is the Working President of the Indian National Congress party Maharashtra and Chairman AICC (All India Congress Committee) for SC Department. He was the Cabinet Minister of Employment Guarantee and Water Conservation in the Government of Maharashtra, India until 2014.

Political career

He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Nagpur North constituency, in Nagpur district consecutively in the 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections. As of 2014 he served as a Maharashtra Cabinet Minister for Employment Guarantee Scheme and Water Conservation. He was former Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, Home, Jail, State Labor and Excise Department.

Held positions

Other positions

He became the Vice President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) in 2001. He served as the General Secretary MPCC. He is an active member of the MPCC Core Group and Media Committee. He began serving as a member of the All India Congress Committee in 2001.

Books and publications

Personal life

His family, inspired by B. R. Ambedkar, follows Buddhism and he strongly believes in Buddhist philosophy.

Social work

Nitin Raut carries out social work through 'Sankalp', an NGO that works to aid Dalits and other downtrodden people. It provides relief to victims of natural and man-made calamities such as floods and communal riots.